Pd Could Have Record 4 Teams In Regionals

Notebook

If the Group AAA Eastern Region football playoffs opened this week, the Peninsula District would have two representatives in both Division 6 and Division 5, its most ever.

Hampton and Kecoughtan are first and third, respectively, in the region's Division 6 power ratings.

Phoebus and Warwick are second and fourth, respectively, in Division 5. Four teams qualify to play in each division.

The Peninsula District's most entries since the division system started in 1986 is three, which it accomplished in that inaugural year and in 1987.

Ironically, the four teams in the running for this year's playoffs are the only four that have represented the Peninsula since the divisional system began. Hampton has appeared all four years, Phoebus three, Warwick two and Kecoughtan one.

With two games left in the regular season, co-Peninsula District leaders Hampton and Phoebus are virtually assured of berths, barring huge upsets.

The playoff scenario is much more interesting for Kecoughtan and Warwick, both 6-2, because they play each other Friday night at Darling Stadium. The following week, Kecoughtan plays Gloucester and Warwick plays Ferguson.

Kecoughtan's three closest pursuers for the fourth Division 6 berth are Granby, Bayside and Great Bridge. All three already have three losses and are decided underdogs in at least one of their two remaining games.

That bodes well for Curt Newsome's Warriors even if they should lose to Warwick.

The Raiders' Division 5 situation has a few more troublesome variables, like 2-6 Lake Taylor.

Believe it or not, the Division 5 Titans can still win the Eastern District title and an automatic playoff berth by winning their remaining games against Norview and Maury.

That scenario could knock Warwick out of the playoffs, even with an 8-2 finish, if the three other top contenders, Deep Creek, Phoebus and Wilson, finish as expected.

Warwick must also be wary of Indian River (6-3), which is likely to finish 7-3.

* CHRISTMAS HOOPS

Hampton Roads Academy will play host to its first Christmas basketball tournament Dec. 27-29. Joining the Navigators in the eight-team field are Cardinal Gibbons and Ravenscroft, both from Raleigh, N.C., Providence Day from Charlotte, N.C., Sidwell Friends from Washington, Queen Anne from Maryland, Salem from Virginia Beach and Poquoson. Games will be played at 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m. each day.

* SOCCER PROPOSAL

Alan Lindsay, the coach of defending Peninsula District soccer champion Kecoughtan, is spearheading a drive to start four-team postseason tournaments in each of the Eastern Region's districts. He hopes to see the regional tournament expand to eight teams - four regular-season titlists and four more to be determined in the tournaments. "We're the only region that doesn't have an eight-team regional," Lindsay said. "I've called a lot of the coaches in the districts and told them to tell their principals, but it's really up to the principals now." Principals meet on the third Monday of each month. Lindsay said if three of the four districts - Peninsula, Beach, Eastern and Southeastern - approve the measure, the new format could take shape next spring. "It would be really neat to have a district tournament because it generates a lot of interest," he said. "The best part of this is for people who come in third or fourth. It's pretty bad for somebody like Kempsville, who went something like 12-1, but their season was over when they lost to Cox."

* TOTAL OFFENSE

Bethel quarterback Paul London's season-ending injury means Warwick quarterback Mario Haskett likely will be the Peninsula District's total offense leader. Haskett is second to London's 1,408-yard total with 1,112 and two games to play.